Australia Horse Racing Chiefs Powerless To Intervene In Cup Stoush

Racing Victoria is "making moves to increase its legislative influence after an ugly stoush between Victoria’s two biggest clubs in which the governing body has been powerless to intervene," according to Bartley & Banks of THE AGE. Melbourne Racing Club last week "condemned the Victoria Racing Club’s decision to deny the Caulfield Cup winner an exception from being re-handicapped for the Melbourne Cup, prompting calls for Racing Victoria to step in and sort out the situation." But Racing Victoria Limited, despite being created 12 years ago, "is still not legislated to overturn any Victorian club decision and there is growing pressure for the governing body to be given the authority to handle all racing matters." RVL CEO Bernard Saundry said that he believed all elements of the racing program "should be decided by RVL and that model would ensure the best interests of the entire industry." Saundry said this position "was not a response to the VRC’s decision to decline the MRC’s request." Saundry: “This is a process that we commenced at the end of 2013 with the release of our strategic plan” (THE AGE, 4/28).